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11.10.2024

Popular game apps: Brawl Stars

☕️
3 minutes reading time
6-13 years
Communication
Entertainment
Safety
Games
Tool description
Bildquelle: supercell.com

Time to BRAWL! Cool characters, exciting matches, jewels and trophies – that’s the colorful game world of Brawl Stars. We present the popular mobile app.

In a nutshell:

  • Free real-time multiplayer strategy game for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets
  • available for iOS and Android
  • includes in-app purchases
  • Age rating: released from 12 years(USK), recommended from approx. 12 years(Spieleratgeber NRW)

What is Brawl Stars?

Brawl Stars is a mobile battle arena game for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, developed by Finnish game provider Supercell. It is based on the “free-to-play” model and is basically free of charge. In the game, you fight either alone or in teams of two or three against friends or other players. A round of the game lasts only a few minutes.

The players control characters, so-called “Brawlers”. Each Brawler has their own abilities and play styles. The aim is to defeat opponents and other teams, collect gems or complete certain tasks. Over the course of the game, new Brawlers can be unlocked, their skills improved and their appearance customized with skins and accessories. These extras can be purchased with the in-game coins earned or obtained through rewards. Real money can be used to buy in-game coins and thus achieve faster progress in the game. The colorful and vibrant graphics and simple controls make the game accessible and entertaining for players of all ages. Brawl Stars also features regular updates, events and an active community that keeps the game fresh and engaging.

What fascinates children and young people about it?

Free game apps are interesting for many children and young people as they promise free fun. Playing together as a team and competing against other players is particularly exciting and fun. The rounds are entertaining and you can progress quickly. The look of the game is also impressive: Everything in the game is colorfully designed in cartoon graphics and the brawlers look funny. Winning a round earns you rewards. The game features loot boxes (surprise boxes) with a star symbol – also known as “Starrdrops”. Whoever opens the Starrdrops receives random rewards such as new skins, sprays, accessories, coins, jewels or new brawlers. The surprise effect and the prospect of stronger characters can quickly motivate children and young people to keep playing to get more Starrdrops and become more and more “powerful” for duels.

What is problematic about the offer?

The short game rounds and regular rewards make the game attractive and tempt you to keep playing. Brawl Stars is played in teams. Players can create and join clubs.

Your child may come into contact with strangers who, in the worst case, are not who they say they are. Following random game rounds, your child can receive friend requests from players. There is a risk of cyberbullying and cybergrooming here.

For the chance to get rare brawlers or new coins, your child may be tempted to spend real money on in-game items and loot boxes. These purchases make it possible to equip their favorite Brawler with better abilities. There is also the option to purchase so-called “Brawl Passes”, which offer significantly more rewards and faster game progress. The game provider earns a lot of money with such mechanisms.

What does the provider think?

There is a guide for parents on the official website of the provider Supercell. Among other things, it refers to existing in-app purchases in the game and explains how parents can manage and, if necessary, disable them. Supercell states that it does not pass on personal data to third parties for commercial purposes or in any other way. The provider has created a “blacklist” for safe chatting. This allows certain terms to be quickly and automatically removed from chats. Chat messages can be muted and are then no longer displayed.

What should parents pay attention to?

The best way to start is to discover the game together. Play together with your child to understand your child’s enthusiasm for the game.

  • Inform your child about in-app purchases and discuss whether your child is allowed to make them and, if so, how much.
  • As the game often tempts you to play a round on the side, agree on rules: How long can you play per day or per week?
  • Make settings together on the mobile device to restrict in-app purchases or set a daily screen time limit
  • If you are unsure whether your child’s play behavior exceeds normal limits, you can find out more here
  • Use the settings options in the game, for example to exclude contact with strangers via the chat function. Make your child aware not to disclose any personal data such as name, place of residence, etc.
  • Keep in touch with your child about the game and encourage them to contact you if they have any questions or problems.

Be wary of third-party vendors offering Brawl Stars enhancements such as free jewels. Here, personal information and/or money are often demanded without delivering the promised product.

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